By default it does not come with an off-line dictionary. If you want the default ‘GNU powered’ English dictionary (about 13MB of size … so it contains a lot) called “GCIDE” then use the below procedure to install it.

This is a completely free dictionary program and fully secure from copyright issues. So it’ll always be there for us :).

You can install GCIDE in Ubuntu by using the below command.

sudo apt-get install dict-gcide

When you launch GoldenDict it should scan and find it automatically. If however it doesn’t do that, then to fix that, from its window press “F3” key on your keyboard.

This should open its “settings” window. And from that under “Files” tab click on the “add” button and simply enter the below two folder paths (update: If you cannot find ‘/usr/share/stardict/dic’ then skip it and only add ‘/usr/share/dictd’).

/usr/share/stardict/dic

/usr/share/dictd

Then click on the “Rescan” button and it should’ve recognized it by now :).

How to enable “Voice” outputs?

GoldenDict uses “mplayer” as the playback engine. But you can change that to any player by using “Audio” tab under “Settings” window. But I strongly suggest that you use Mplayer instead of say “Totem” or “Banshee” as they’re extremely slowish to load when compared to “mplayer”.

You can change “external program” name to add any multimedia player for the audio output …

So again open your Terminal and enter the below command to install Mplayer in Ubuntu.

sudo apt-get install mplayer

That should solve that one too :).

‘GoldenDict’ also supports a lot of other dictionaries as well. For that please this official GoldenDict Dictionaries page. It’s really well documented and should be easy from there. Well that’s pretty much it.

21 thoughts on “How to Easily Setup a Dictionary in Ubuntu Linux?”

If you are looking for a simple GTK+ dictionary based on the Wordnet database, have a look at Artha: http://artha.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Home.
Though not as customizable as Goldendict, it is a pretty good dictionary for those who just want a simple dictionary application for english language.

Yes, Abhisek, you are right. But I found ARTHA is a very simple dictionary. I am looking for something equivalent of WORDWEB (Windows based) in Ubuntu 12.04. Do you think this one would be close to that one? Please drop a line to akbagchi at gmail dot com Hug and love.

Well, since you're using Kubuntu (KDE), try enabling the other option above 'mplayer' called 'Play via Phonon'. This might fix your issue as 'Phonon' is a multimedia engine (framework) that's specially designed for KDE.

<del datetime="2012-09-13T06:52:35+00:00">Concerning the audio, as I've said in the post, make sure the option 'Auto-pronounce words in main window' is enabled and under playback choose 'Use external program' and enter 'mplayer' and that usually should do the trick. </del>

A<del datetime="2012-09-13T06:52:35+00:00">bout the 'startdict/dic' … I'm not sure what the issue could be :/. Does 'goldendict' detect 'GCIDE' dictionary nonetheless? </del>

Update: It's your lucky day 'Hailay', I just had to install Ubuntu 11.10 for some reason today :D.

And did a quick installation of Goldendict and don't worry, you don't need to enter the 'startdict/dic' (which will only be there if you're installed another dictionary called 'stardict. I don't know why I put it in the article, perhaps I've had installed it before Goldendict …).

Just enter the '/usr/share/dictd' and then press the 'rescan' button and now you should have a decent offline dictionary support in Goldendict.

About the audio: Press 'F3'after opening Goldendict and then under the 'Sources' tab, choose 'Frovo' tab and make sure to enable it by clicking on the 'Enable Pronunciation from Frovo' option.

Then follow the next step on that page to get your 'key' from 'Frovo' (you'll have to register in their site) and then once you've got it, paste it in the blank field in Goldendict. That should do it.

It used to work without a key (or with the one that came with Goldendict) but it doesn't seem to work no more.

Hi Gayan, thanks for the tips..
But, as I tried to install GCIDE from ubuntu-software-centre, its said that the definition was obsolete:

“The GCIDE contains the full text of the 1913 Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, supplemented by many definitions from WordNet, the Century Dictionary, 1906, and many additional definitions contributed by volunteers.
The definitions in the core of this dictionary are at least 85 years old, so they can not be expected to be politically correct by contemporary standards, and no attempt has been, or will be, made to make them so.”

What should I do to make the definition up to date? or.. What application should I install to make GoldenDict an updated-offline-dictionary?